An individual's emotional, psychological, and social well-being is part of mental health. This is where it affects our own thinking, how we feel, and the way we act as a person. Mental health helps us determine how we handle stress, how we relate ourselves to other people and help us make healthy choices in everyday life. According to research, more than 50% of people will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder over the course of their lives. Moreover, 1 in 5 children either had or currently has a seriously weakening mental illness at some point during their life. The effects of mental health problems include our thinking, changes in mood, and behavior. There is no single cause for mental illness but there are numerous factors that contribute to the problem regarding our mental health. These can be biological factors; in which the problem comes from the genes or brain chemistry, life experiences; which that person may have trauma or experiences abuse; and lastly, family history of any mental health problems. It is important to take note that these factors can change a person’s mental health over time. Poor mental health and mental illness are terms that are often used interchangeably, but these two are not the same. You can experience poor mental health and yet it does not mean that you are diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder. Always remember that mental health is important at every stage of life and it is as significant as physical health because these two are components of an individual's overall health. Mental health problems are relevant nowadays therefore do not be ashamed of seeking help because help is always available. Reference: What Is Mental Health? | MentalHealth.gov. (2020, May 28). MentalHealth.Gov. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health

It’s always such a beautiful moment to have your friends around. Someone who was once a stranger has now devoted their time, loyalty, and utmost love to you without any obligations or strings attached—simply because they are your friend. Letting a friend into your life means letting them bring a myriad of other things with them. Smiles, for sure, is one thing. And so are laughter, sadness, hugs, life-changing talks about this and that, countless hours spent in comfortable silence, and careful advice for your broken heart (that you surely will not follow). There are a ton of other things as well on the tip of my tongue, but if I mention them all, then I’d be writing a novel instead of an article. Instead, I’d like to focus on one more thing that friendships help us with. One that is paramount to each and every one of us, yet maybe the most overlooked and forgotten: mental health. Friendships and mental health. It sounds odd and unfamiliar, but somehow, it makes perfect sense. Someone being there for you in your times of loneliness may seem like a common thing a friend would do, but e don’t realize how this benefits our mental well-being. A good friend can provide us with a sense of belongingness to help counter this loneliness, as well as make us realize our self-worth self-confidence, reduce stress and risks of depression, help us cope during the hard days, and encourage us to be better people for ourselves and for everybody else. Healthy relationships can also diminish the chances of high blood pressure and a damaging body mass index (BMI). And in terms of mortality, adults with a well-established set of social relationships tend to live longer than those who prefer isolation. How cool is that? With findings like this, it’s safe to assume that surrounding yourself with friends can only really do you more good than harm. But alas, it isn’t always that easy to form a connection, nor is it easy to maintain a friendship for as long as you’d like. So how do you make a friend? According to the Mayo Clinic, one should first be kind. It’s an obvious trait one should possess when around your circle and, most importantly, in everyday life. Through acts of kindness, we get to truly live as human beings, helping one another in the littlest ways that we can. It is also through kindness we get to meet those who also wish compassion upon us, and it is through kindness we learn how to take care of ourselves and the people we cherish and love. Listen up. A friend is someone always willing to listen. This may be a silent act, but its impact is always powerful. Having someone to listen to your problems, thoughts, or rambles without judgment always means that you got yourself a very good friend. Show that you can be trusted. Trust is an integral part of friendship. Forming trust within your peers is some sort of commitment that involves responsibility. In order to make deep connections, showing people that you are dependable and trustworthy is what will make them give you their trust in return. Friendships, as easy as they seem to be, aren’t always rainbows and butterflies. We sometimes tend to forget that our friends are human beings like us who can feel just as sad and lonely as we do. When a friend is struggling, how do we help? Katherine Martinelli from Child Mind Institute gives a few examples on how to support a friend with a mental health problem: Validate what they’re saying. Letting your friend know that what they are feeling is valid and reasonable is a good step to take when talking to someone who just wants to be heard. Empathy can always go a long way, even in the shortest of instances. Show your friend that you care and that their feelings are valued and acknowledged. Ask how you can help. It’s always good to ask, even if your friend doesn’t seem like they need it. Sometimes people don’t even realize that they need help unless someone points it out. Be understanding of their limitations. Everybody has their limits. Respecting your friend’s boundaries and letting them do things at their own time and pace will not only lessen their anxiety, but it lets them know that by respecting their limits, you respect them as a person too. Remember, friendships should never be restricted. A friend is a friend no matter if they’re older or younger, from the past or present, from right next door or a faraway place. And it is through enhancing our own mental health do we get to contribute to the mental well-being of those we love as well. References: (2019). Friendships: Enrich your life and improve your health. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friendships/art-20044860 Martinelli, K. (n.d.). How to support a friend with mental health challenges. Child Mind Institute. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/article/support-friend-with-mental-health-challenges/ Umberson, D. & Montez, J.K. (2010). Social relationships and health: A flashpoint for health policy. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0022146510383501

The Philippines is known to be very competitive in beauty pageants, with 15 crowns won by Filipinas, our country is 2nd in ranking when it comes to the most crowned beauty queens. (Baclig, 2020) Some children would even say they want to join beauty contests and go for the gold. However, amidst the celebration of bringing home the bacon, winning the crown, and bringing the pride of the country, there is a lot of pressure being felt by beauty queens and the pressure of creating a beauty standard in society. How can one get the crown? The goal of beauty contestants is to be the queen, to be able to have the sash and the title. Beauty pageants are thought to be all about lavish gowns, stunning faces, extraordinary answers, and different advocacies to touch the hearts of many. However, there are requirements in order to join such contests, they must be at 18-25 years of age, they must be a citizen of their country, single, and at least 5’5 ft tall (Reporter BT, 2009), they should not have a flabby stomach or be fat in general. Aside from the physical aspects, another qualification is that being confident, intelligent and with personality can win people’s hearts and can secure a slot for the crown. The ugly truth of beauty pageants. Beauty pageants have been popular across the world and it triggered a surge as well, becoming an easy plot on how society views beauty. However, there are pressures that can affect a woman such as when their beauty does not fit the criteria of society (Vasudev,2013). Despite having benefits, the amount of pressure these queens get is too much. William Adams stated that many psychological experts found that beauty pageants can lead to mental issues in the participants, the pressure of looking beautiful can cause anxiety and even depression. Aside from it can cause eating disorders and/or body dysmorphia, because believe it or not most pageants focus on beauty making the participants spend a huge amount of their time trying to keep themselves beautiful. (2021) They all set the standards high that women can have low self-esteem, some feel that whenever they did not bring home the bacon, as well as making a mistake, is that people can embed on them for life. (Ng, 2021) The future of beauty pageants Nowadays, the rules drastically changed and it became more friendly for women to join. In the recent miss universe post, there is no height requirement needed and anyone can join. Before, girls with extra piercings and tattoos were prohibited. Now they are lenient with the appearance, although there are still lapses. In the time it can change, also they are also doing their best to be careful with the mental well-being of the pageants as one contestant who has a mental health issue even joined making it her advocacy that anyone can join. REFERENCES: Baclig, C. E. (2020, December 14). PH: Second most-crowned country in international beauty pageants. INQUIRER.Net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1370730/second-most-crowned-country-in-international-beauty-pageants Everhart, A. (2011). Entertaining a false reality: A social comparison examination of beauty pageant participation and the effect on body dissatisfaction, depression, and self-esteem. West Virginia University. Published. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.3452 ​how beauty pageants can affect self esteem | Dr. Adams plastic surgery. (n.d.). WILLIAM P. ADAMS JR., MD PLASTIC SURGERY. Retrieved August 23, 2021, from https://www.dr-adams.com/blog/how-beauty-pageants-can-affect-self-esteem/ Miss universe PH removes height requirement for 2021. (2021). Cnn. https://cnnphilippines.com/entertainment/2021/6/10/Miss-Universe-Philippines-no-height-requirement-.html Ng, D. (2020, December 22). After years of silence, the ugly truth behind beauty contests in philippines. CNA. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cnainsider/breaking-silence-ugly-truth-beauty-contests-pageants-philippines-719271 Reporter, B. T. (2009, December 3). What it takes to become a beauty queen. The New Times | Rwanda. https://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/93323 Vasudev, S. (2013, October 3). The ugly pressure on beautiful women. Mint. https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/thm2m9JOnTme9t9pek8YbI/The-ugly-pressure-on-beautiful-women.html Wonderlich, A. L., Ackard, D. M., & Henderson, J. B. (2005). Childhood beauty pageant contestants: Associations with adult disordered eating and mental health. Eating Disorders, 13(3), 291–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640260590932896

The quotation of “Self-care is not selfish” has been all over different kinds of social media platforms; a lot of people promote the kind of love toward self, but is it really promoting self-care? Self-care can be different from others' perspectives, some may want to have alone time, some want to go to retreats, and some do the things they love to do without minding other people’s judgment. Self-care is different from rewarding yourself from exhaustion and a stressful week at work, school, or home. Self-care is a self-explanatory word; it is a process of taking care of one's self including emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual over overwhelming situations. For me, self-care integrates a process of self-healing. People nowadays talk and promote self-care yet fail to talk about what is the reason behind their stress, burnout, or why they do self-care? Is purchasing something from an online shop self-care? or is it just temporary happiness to make ourselves at ease? We cannot deny that most of our social circle may think that self-care is a form of selfishness, that is why most of us fail to understand what self-care truly is. Let us take note of the distinction between selfless and selfish for us to be able to comprehend what is self-care. A selfless person is a person who thinks about the needs of other people, such as their family and friends, without thinking of one's own needs. On the other hand, selfishness is thinking about one’s desire, pleasure, and thinking about what is profitable for them and not thinking about other people. If selfless and selfish have distinction, therefore self-care is a paradox of these two distinctions wherein self-care is taking care of one's own self to prevent us from the stressors that will cause our burnout. I mentioned that self-care integrates a process of self-healing because I believe that every day we heal from the pain of yesterday. Self-care is committing to the things we love to do, and we find it meaningful to ourselves. According to the Institute of Crisis and Trauma Resources, there are four (4) key dimensions in self-care; those are physical self-care, emotional self-care, spiritual self-care, and psychological self-care. These four key dimensions are interconnected with each other. How do these four key dimensions connected to one another? First, physical self-care, when we care for ourselves by means of eating healthy, exercising, and enough rest it reduces our stress, anxiety improves our overall mood? Second, according to the blog, emotional self-care we must give ourselves some time to restore our energy, and by connecting with other people such as friends, family, or loved ones who give us support, love, and kindness, likewise. We must turn our energy into positive as it also helps us improve our mental health, connect spiritually with other people and ourselves. Third, psychological self-care is common as a lot of people are promoting self-care equates to mental health. When we experience stress or burnout because of uncertainty, we lose focus on our goals and become anxious about the future. Now, in psychological self-care, we must focus on the things that we control and what is our present then re-evaluate, and reframe our mind by taking some time to reflect. We must focus on the things that we will learn and grow. Lastly, spiritual self-care, by doing meditation, prayer, or whatever the things that make your body, mind, and soul connected. Spiritual self-care is finding meaning beyond what you are doing. Now we come up with the question, how can someone care for others if he/she does not care for themselves? Reference: 4 key dimensions of self-care. Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute. (2020, December 14). https://ca.ctrinstitute.com/blog/4-key-dimensions-self-care/.

Times are uncertain these days; one minute, everything is fine, and you go on and about with your life, and then suddenly you hear an old friend, someone younger, or maybe even stronger than you suddenly died because of the pandemic. This morning, that same scenario happened with an old friend of our family, she died due to heart enlargement and pneumonia, but there was no room in the ICU available to access. It has been two years, and this is still our reality. Our country faces an invisible enemy, and the anxiety of losing loved ones is nerve breaking. With this realization: Filipinos are trying hard to fight and ensure everyone's safety when it comes to physical health. Wearing face masks, staying at home, and other protective equipment should still be observed to ensure the safety of the entire household, even if the situations have been less strict. We faced these challenges as the government implemented different restrictions and safety measures to reduce the country's mortality rate of Covid 19. These affected every individual's daily routines and lifestyle, which was for sure a giant leap of change in our lives. People are encouraged to work from home, though many have then shifted to going back on-site. Learning methods modified, universities have been allowing online and face-to-face classes. Embracing yet another new lifestyle can bring a mental distortion even with an individual with a healthy mentality and more dangerous to those with a disorder. Managing mental health is an essential matter to take a closer look at. There are many ways and preventive measures that we can consider to ensure the safety of our mental health and help others who may need this information. 1. Be alert and keep updated on all information. Always make yourself well informed by listening and reading the news available on different platforms and social media. Be sure to weigh the truthfulness of the statements before believing in them. The World Health Organization is the most reliable source for any information. Follow guidelines only from them and certified channels of a television. 2. Keep your daily health habits consistent. Make sure to have your list of dos and don'ts in your daily health habits. Be sure to have enough time of rest and sleep; Take a bath every day and other personal hygiene; Follow the go, grow, glow foods dietary meal plan; Take vigorous physical activities every morning; Engage in extracurricular activities that take pleasure for your mental health. 3. Never embrace false ideas. Limit your exposure to social media such as Facebook, Messenger, and the like. They may make you fearful and anxious. 4. Allow yourself to communicate actively with other people. If physical fellowship is not possible, try to share positively with your friends, colleagues, and loved ones. 5. Screen time. Always make sure that you always take a break from your phone. 6. Avoid over-indulgence in online games. Online games can be another way to relax your mind for a short period. But taking too much time in online games is dangerous to your mental health. 7. Practice using social media for beneficial purposes. Make use of your social media account to benefit others. Your positive posts may encourage them to keep a happy mindset instead of worrying. References: https://www.who.int/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---mental-health?gclid=CjwKCAjwmqKJBhAWEiwAMvGt6EWgYJOTvDH8tDzHyszLigQcxOIi1hrbe7liNz0UgkiZOcwEackRchoCh7IQAvD_BwE

Many people are experiencing stress and fatigue these days; the added weight of the pandemic brought to us makes it all the more challenging. Sometimes, this stress and fatigue are becoming severe that it leads to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that hinders us from functioning correctly, and this is what you call Burnout. People who experience Burnout may find it hard to get out of their beds in the morning, and they may have a more pessimistic outlook towards life. Burnout is not easy to get rid of, and if it is left untreated, it may become severe, which could lead to other mental and physiological problems. Burnout happens to everyone, and there is no exception whether you are a working adult, student, or even a parent. Sometimes we may be already experiencing Burnout, but we are aware of it because maybe we are not sure if it is a sign of Burnout. Seeing early signs of Burnout could help prevent further problems arising in the future. Here is a list of signs that could result in Burnout: Exhaustion Isolation Escape fantasies Irritability Frequent illnesses Burnout is like a sickness that comes in different degrees, and its severity depends on it. Two psychologists named Herbert Freudenberger and Gail North developed a 12 stage model of Burnout. Here are the following 12 stages of Burnout: Excessive drive/ambition. Pushing yourself to work harder Neglecting your own needs Displacement of conflict No time for nonwork-related needs Denial. Withdrawal Behavioral changes Depersonalization Inner emptiness or anxiety Depression Mental or physical collapse Based on these symptoms and stages, you could see mild to serious ones. These lists could help prevent and make an appropriate response based on the severity of the symptoms or stages you are currently feeling or experiencing. Stress is part of our life whether we like it or not. We can’t avoid stress as there are many stressors in our environment, and these stressors could eventually lead to Burnout. We may not avoid stress, but we can prevent Burnout. Here are different ways how to Prevent Burnout: Exercise Eat a balanced diet Practice good sleeping habits Ask for help Reference: Fraga, J. (n.d.). How to identify and prevent burnout. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/tips-for-identifying-and-preventing-burnout#how-you-can-help Exhausted parents: Development and preliminary validation of the parental burnout inventory. (n.d.). Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00163/full

Overview of the Phenomenon With the outbreak of COVID-19 during the first three months of 2020, our very lives have been subjected to different types of community quarantine protocols to prevent the spread of the deadly virus (Bainbridge & Vimonsuknopparat, 2020). Malls were closed, learning became virtual, social gatherings became taboo, and our chances to travel became extremely hard. All the things we used to enjoy has now become a memory. Sudden changes in lifestyle due to the pandemic have greatly affected people's psychological well-being. According to Tee et al. (2020), during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, one-fourth of the respondents recorded an increase in anxiety levels which range from moderate to severe, while one-sixth of the respondents indicates an increase in feelings of depression from moderate to severe. These results highlight the spike of different mental health concerns due to the sudden and continuous effect of the pandemic trend. With everyone forced to stay at their homes during the height of COVID-19 lockdowns, people were looking for ways not just to survive but to cope with the unrelenting situation. People began to look for ways to entertain themselves, and one of them is video games. Anecdotal reports suggest that many have turned to playing video games during the height of the pandemic (Barr & Copeland-Stewart, 2021). A Whole New World Games that provide a sense of escapism garnered popularity during the height of the pandemic, according to several studies (Barr & Copeland-Stewart, 2021) (Coyle, 2020) (Zhu, 2021). No wonder games like Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, Legend of Zelda, and Genshin Impact garnered international attention thanks to their relaxing, immersive gameplay. These games allowed players to explore environments, interact with other people, and live an unbothered life virtually. It helped many people temporarily escape from the gloom given by the pandemic by being “present” in a different world. Contributions to Well-Being Recent studies on understanding the impact of playing video games during COVID-19 lockdowns have shown positive indications. According to Barr and Copeland-Stewart (2021), their study suggests that people who play video games have a significant positive outcome on their perceived well-being during lockdowns. It is also mentioned in the results of the research that people used video games as means of maintaining social connection and a stress-relieving and mentally stimulating escape from the effects of the pandemic. Another study suggests that video games have offered uncommon mood-improving and stress-reducing effects. Games help players shift their attention from whatever is disrupting their mindset into the external reality of the game. This shift has been shown to calm the nervous system and, compared to other activities such as watching a movie, nothing beats video games since they are known to be immersive as they fully engulf and distract the players' mind from worries and stress (Wiedlerhold, 2021). Concerning the mentioned studies, related research has shown that active video games (AVG) are now utilized to improve children and adolescents' physical and psychological well-being during social isolation. A study conducted by Santos et al. (2021) has shown moderate-quality evidence that active video games positively contribute to children and adolescents’ self-esteem, energy expenditure, and physical wellness while being at home due to the pandemic. Enjoyable in moderation While playing games is proven to be psychologically valuable at this trying time, moderation in playtime is recommended for children and adolescents to avoid health-related problems, according to The Child Mind Institute (2019). While there is no official health guideline on how much gaming is too much for adults, the answer is likely for them to moderate their playtime as well. Gaming is associated with many different health issues (Grinspoon, 2020). Is playing too much means for a gaming disorder? That depends on current medical references. Currently, only the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) considers the existence of 'gaming disorder.' But the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is yet to study its inclusion as a disorder. However, the DSM-5 has a section to provide information for people and medical practitioners to identify the warning signs of video gaming-related problems (Ratini, 2021). The gaming disorder is not fully understood or agreed upon but can include public health approaches such as education and harm reduction programs, stricter warning labels, as well as future psychological interventions (Grinspoon, 2020). References: Bainbridge , A., Vimonsuknopparat, S. (2020). This is what life is like in the Philippines amid one of the world's toughest coronavirus lockdowns. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-29/philippines-social-volcano-threatening-to-erupt-amid-covid-19/12193188 Barr, S., Copeland-Stewart, A. (2021). Playing Video Games During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Effects on Players’ Well-Being. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15554120211017036 Child Mind Institute. (2019). Healthy Limits on Video Games. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/article/healthy-limits-on-video-games/ Grinspoon, P. (2020). The health effects of too much gaming. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-health-effects-of-too-much-gaming-2020122221645 Nielsen. (2021). 3, 2, 1 Go! Video Gaming Is At An All-Time High During Covid-19. https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2020/3-2-1-go-video-gaming-is-at-an-all-time-high-during-covid-19/ Ratini, S. (2021). Is Video Game Addiction Real?. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/video-game-addiction Santos, I.K.D., Medeiros, R.C.D.S.C., Medeiros, J.A., Almeida-Neto, P.F., Sena, D.C.S., Cobucci, R.N., Oliveira, R.S., Cabral, B.G.A.T., Dantas, P.M.S. (2021). Active Video Games for Improving Mental Health and Physical Fitness-An Alternative for Children and Adolescents during Social Isolation: An Overview. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33572159/ Tee, M.L., Tee, C.A., Anlacan, J.P., Aligam, K.J.G., Reyes, P.W.C., Kuruchittham V., Ho R.C. (2020) Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32861839/ Wiederhold, B. (2021). Violent Video Games: Harmful Trigger or Harmless Diversion?. Retrieved from https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/cyber.2020.29203.editorial Character Images retrieved from: https://win.gg/news/these-brimstone-molotov-tricks-will-win-you-rounds-on-haven/ https://www.pcgamesn.com/genshin-impact/characters-best-guide https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-switch/ https://earlygame.com/valorant/champions-semifinals-recap/

CONTENT WARNING: This article contains discussions of conflict, struggle, and mental health issues. Viewer discretion is advised. SPOILERS AHEAD from the listed animes below. Overview Violet Evergarden is a young girl raised to be a "weapon" for the Leidenschaftlich Army. After countless years of conflict, the wars between nations have finally come to a halt. Being able to survive the bloodshed, she began to take a step to understand the words left to her by a person she held dear by reintegrating her life as a civilian working at a postal service office. As she works for the postal office, she was amazed by the works of an "Auto Memory Doll," where they transcribe people's thoughts and feelings into words on paper. Motivated to become one, Violet eventually trained and passed to become an Auto Memory Doll herself, a title that will take her for a journey, becoming the answer to reshaping the lives of people seeking her assistance while she seeks to understand the meaning of the words "I love you," which was said to her by her significant other before the war ended. Post-war perspective During the war, Violet has a sense of purpose, to be a tool to clear missions for military skirmishes. But, as the war ended, all of this was simply lost. Every second of her life, the life she had always known, has disappeared along with the one she held dear. Violet surviving the Great War may be seen as a promising start, but as the series goes through, it is uncovered that her journey focuses on dealing with her traumatic experience while finding her purpose and the meaning behind the words of love. The Significant Other Many treated Violet only as a tool for war, but Major Gilbert Bougainvillea treated her humanly. He gave her an identity and a reason for everything. But, at the final moments of the Great War, the narrative suggests that Gilbert died. Though, in the early episodes, it was unclear whether Gilbert did die until Dietfried revealed Gilbert's resting place. Gilbert was the only person that Violet ever knew as someone important. Realizing the truth devastated her greatly. Shell Shock It was never mentioned in the anime series that Violet was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But the devastating loss of Major Gilbert Bougainvillea in the Great War and the countless violence that Violet has witnessed, several symptoms of PTSD were seen throughout the series. American Psychiatric Association (2020) defines post-traumatic stress disorder as a mental health condition that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. The DSM-5 (2013) presents the symptoms of PTSD fall into four categories: intrusion, avoidance, alterations in mood and cognition, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. Going through Traumatic Grief The Stages of Grief is a theory developed by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, and it suggests that we go through a variety of emotional experiences as we progress through the feelings of grief (Clarke, 2021). According to Clarke (2021), it is important to know that people experience and undergo the stages differently. Some may experience a stage, while some may not. The same goes for Violet as she struggles to understand her position while searching for Gilbert. Denial: despite being the first stage of grief, it is the last stage seen from Violet. Ever since she recovered from the war, she progressed as an Auto Memory Doll under the assumption that Gilbert was alive. Her unwillingness to realize everyone was giving her hints is a form of denial. Anger: The concept of anger is not seen in Violet despite all of the stressful situations. She treats outbursts of people with polite yet blank expressions and seems confused when anyone around her is angry, yet she responds to life-threatening conditions with tactical precision. Bargaining: Unlike the conventional version of bargaining, Violet's bargaining sets into her motive of becoming an Auto Memory Doll by trying to understand what Gilbert meant before they got separated. Throughout the series, she believed that becoming learned as a Doll will help her meet Gilbert once she learns. At the very least, she wants to know the meaning of the words Gilbert told her before they can meet again. Depression: Once she realizes Gilbert's passing, she retreats from the site where Gilbert was last seen and reminisces their moments together. Acceptance: When Violet finally accepts Gilbert's death and her violent past, post-traumatic growth is seen within her as she strives to become better for her own. Growth after trauma Post-traumatic growth (PTG) is a theory developed by Richard Tedeschi and Lawrence Calhoun (1996). PTG shows that individuals who endured a psychological struggle following unfortunate events can often see positive growth afterward. Examples of areas for growth include personal strength, appreciation for life, new possibilities in life, spiritual change, and relationships with others (Collier, 2016). As for Violet, her journey for growth was long; she battled her traumas while trying to integrate herself into society while waiting for someone she admires the most. But as she accepted the truth, she achieved growth after trauma. She becomes of service to people that cannot put their thoughts and feelings into words. She moved on from her past military life into an Auto Memory Doll, where she now touches lives and helps to make a significant difference. The War Narrative Violet Evergarden has shown us a different perspective in a war narrative. It made us see that trauma is much more than being seen with symptoms, that it can also be a way of growing in life. The anime series has also shown the importance of recognizing the consequences of senseless conflict on each individual. References: American Psychiatric Association. (2020). What is PTSD? Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd The DSM-5. (2013). American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders.. Retrieved from https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.dsm07 Clarke, J. (2021). The Five Stages of Grief. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/five-stages-of-grief-4175361 Collier, L. (2016). Growth after trauma. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/11/growth-trauma Fandom. (2021). Violet Evergarden Wikia. Retrieved from https://violet-evergarden.fandom.com/wiki/Violet_Evergarden_Wikia Tedeschi, R.G., Calhoun, L.G. (1996). The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8827649/

The COVID-19 pandemic showed a lot of people that it's totally fine not to feel good all the time and that no one should underestimate what others are feeling and going through. The pandemic tested our whole well-being – physically or mentally, which is why practicing self-care became more relevant. The definition of self-care differs for each individual as we feel good and enjoy things differently. However, it is essential to note that practicing self-care includes caring for your physical health along with your mental health (Crisis Center, 2018). It may appear challenging to some, but nothing can go wrong if you drive to succeed. Self-care can be as simple as sitting on your balcony and watching the leaves sway in the wind or as challenging as finishing a book. Though, don't put too much pressure on yourself if you didn't manage to do everything you intended. It is okay if you're not at your best all of the time as everything takes time to practice. You may start by doing breathing exercises every time you feel stressed or by having a "me"-time before the day ends (Crisis Center, 2018). It doesn't have to be anything significant because everyone has different ways of taking care of themselves. Remember that even small acts of self-care can significantly impact your life. Self-care should be done at your own time and pace. But, most importantly, make sure to enjoy your life at all times still. Reference: Crisis Center. (2018). The importance of Self-Care in maintaining positive mental health. https://www.crisiscenter.com/the-importance-of-self-care-in-maintaining-positive-mental-health/ Photo : https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alphatravelinsurance.co.uk%2Fblog%2Fits-okay-not-to-be-okay%2F&psig=AOvVaw3IIfd18HB38StjMvBGuhI_&ust=1646793213509000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCLD9zvi8tfYCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

A good life is one where you have someone to share it with whether you are with others or not. As individuals, social connection is essential to every aspect of our health. Social connectedness shows us that having a strong bond in our community makes our physical, mental, emotionally strong, and healthy because when we are with other people, we weren't able to think that we are alone in life. When we are alone, we may feel depressed, anxious and it is not good for our mental health. According to one research, social isolation had a larger impact on health than fatness, smoking, and hypertension. Strong social ties, on the other hand, are associated with a 50% increase in lifespan. As such, having a connection to others can boost our immune system and help us to prevent mental illness and may even live longer and happier. Unfortunately, research suggests that loneliness is on the rise. Despite its obvious relevance for health and survival, research indicates that social connection in the United States is dwindling at an alarming rate. In 1985, the average number of close others (i.e., individuals with whom one feels safe disclosing a personal problem) that Americans reported having was just three, according to revealing sociological research. It fell to zero in 2004, with over 25% of Americans claiming they have no one to confide in. Additionally, individuals who have low social interaction are more prone to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal behavior which is more likely to further increase loneliness and isolation. As we are facing a pandemic, people are encouraged to stay at home. As such, it is important for us to have a strong bond with people because being connected to others makes us feel safe and secure, being loved and belonging, making us feel important, and makes our quality of life improved. Social life is extremely important, we are meant to be with someone or some friends and family at least in life to share our happiness and it would not be a life of human beings without that. We are humans and humans need other humans. We need to live together for us to find and build happiness and belongingness. References: Seppala, E. (2017, June 28). Connectedness & Health: The Science of Social Connection. The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. http://ccare.stanford.edu/uncategorized/connectedness-health-the-science-of-social-connection-infographic/

Social media has been a huge part of our life today. We often check our phones daily as we wake up every morning, and it is our phones which are our last companions before we sleep. As we are in the pandemic today, it is not new that our phones are the most important to us. Social media helps us maintain our relationships with others online despite the implemented restrictions and quarantines. Through social media, we were able to seek companionship from others and strengthen our connection to others that affects one’s happiness and mental health. As we become virtually connected to our loved ones, family, and friends that are away, it can boost our emotions and ease stress, anxiety, depression, and boosts self-worth. We rely on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to feel socially connected and entertained. Through social media, we can communicate to our loved ones around the world up to date. Since we all know any OFW who spends their time working abroad to provide for the needs of their family. Social media applications are now easier to communicate and talk to loved ones to avoid loneliness and sadness. We were also able to find new online friends with whom we could share similar interests. Lenhart (2015) shows that 64% of teens made new friends through social media and spent time with them. It is also seen that through social media, it is easier to seek emotional support during hardships and raise awareness on different issues. However, despite the positive aspects of using social media, a negative aspect may arise if it is overused and has already dominated our lives. Multiple studies show that frequent social media use is linked to anxiety, depression, loneliness, self-harm, and suicidal ideations. It causes insecurities as we see updates from people we know about highlights of their lives. A Huffington poll (2018) found out that 60% of people who use social media reported having a negative impact on their self-esteem. It is also relevant that social media also becomes a platform for cyberbullying wherein any type of harassment, threatening, and demeaning language possess embarrassing people online. According to Djuraskovic (2021), 7 in 10 young people experienced cyberbullying before they hit 18 years old. US students also shared common types of online harassment: the mean comments with 22.5%, Online Rumors with 20.1%, and Sexual remarks with 12.1%. The overuse of social media also causes anxiety and depression. It is still essential to have face-to-face contact to maintain our mental health healthy. Through this, stress level reduces and even boost our mood faster and effectively communicates through eye-to-eye contact. Through this, prioritizing social media interaction over face-to-face may result in anxiety and depression. The University of Pennsylvania (2018) study found out that the significant reduction of social media for 30 minutes daily can also reduce different mental health concerns such as sleep problems, fear of missing out, anxiety, and depression. Social media detox is essential to individuals who are overly exposed to different social media applications. This social media detox is defined as “the elimination of the use of social media for a period of time.” A study shows that low spending time on social media use is associated with better mental health. Another study indicates that overuse of social media and digital devices affects sleep routines. Through social media detox, no matter what period, either days, weeks, or a month, can be beneficial to mental health as it provides rest to the way we see things and reconnect to the real world that will boost our healthy well-being. References: Djuraskovic, O. (2021, January 2). Cyberbullying Statistics, Facts and Trends (2021) with Charts. FirstSiteGuide. https://firstsiteguide.com/cyberbullying-stats/. Ignite Teen Treatment. (2021, April 13). The importance of social media detox. Ignite Teen Treatment. https://igniteteentreatment.com/the-importance-of-social-media-detox/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20social%20media%20detox%20is,%2Dlong%20social%20media%20detox.%E2%80%9D&text=Too%20much%20social%20media%20can%20be%20toxic%20and%20depressing. Lenhart, A. (2019, December 31). Social media and teen Friendships. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/08/06/chapter-4-social-media-and-friendships/. Robinson L., Smith M., (2021, July 22). Social Media and Mental Health. HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm

There are many opportunities to move beyond one's comfort zone, but seizing them can be challenging. Sometimes the issue is a lack of awareness of why doing so. After all, why should we strive to abandon the sense of security we have if it means that our most basic needs are being met? Most of the time, people's mindset, more than a lack of knowledge, is what keeps them from stepping outside of their comfort zone. A comfort zone could be defined as a condition of mind in which people are comfortable, in control of their environment, and have low levels of anxiety and stress; however, this definition does not sum up the whole meaning of the phrase. This is due to the fact that different people experience varying levels of anxiety and stress, and a woman or man's anxiety level may be higher or lower than another's. Therefore, comfort zones range from person to person. So, the ideal way to define a comfort zone is to think of it as a mental state in which a person's anxiety and vulnerability are at their lowest. It's the time in your life when you feel at ease and in control. There is not much motivation for people to push themselves to new performance levels while they are in their comfort zone. People go about their daily routines without taking any risks, stagnating their growth. You must understand that almost everything you need to attain your objectives necessitates the development of new abilities, habits, knowledge, and experiences. To be able to go from where you are to where you want to be, it is best to do something you have never done before. It would be best if you were willing to be uncomfortable because the only way to grow is through the discomfort. There is no other option. To truly soar, rise beyond your previous self, and transform your life, you must not only be comfortable with suffering but also fall in love with the journey that comes with it. Discomfort is a period of time, not a single moment. It is a way of life—of constantly working through pressure points to release their influence on you rather than avoiding the tension. In reality, shifting from a comfort zone to a growth zone may not be a straight line. Peaks, troughs, and plateaus frequently complicate the journey. We may even need to withdraw to our comfort zone from time to time before garnering the courage to venture out again. However, acknowledging the processes might help in the acceptance of uncertainty. Why does the magic happen when you leave your comfort zone? Your "real life" is only a few steps away. There is genuine existence beyond the bubble of your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. Your actual life is made up of all of your experiences, not just the ones you enjoy. Challenging yourself to the test encourages you to access and utilize your untapped store of knowledge and resources. You have no clue what you're made of until you go out of your comfort zone. Taking chances is a form of growth, regardless of how they turn out. Even if you make mistakes or don't do it right the first time, you'll gain valuable lessons. If you learn from your mistakes, there is no such thing as a failure. Do not settle for mediocrity to avoid stepping outside your comfort zone; the value is too high. You've overcome several challenges and taken numerous risks. Whenever you try something new and allow yourself to be open to whatever experience occurs, you are learning and developing your inventory of life skills and self-knowledge. Your comfort zone increases too. Getting out of your comfort zone makes it easier to deal with change and do it more effectively. Change is at the center of all life changes, and each time you change, you move forward to the next level. You will change as a result of these life events. We, as humans, tend to stay in our comfort zones because we are afraid of feeling scared, anxious, or stressed. However, you may not realize that you are either growing or dying in life, and the key is to keep moving forward. If there is no growth, then there is no progress, and if there is no progress, you will never be able to see who you are outside of your comfort zone. So be your best to be outside of that comfort zone. Take little effort to boost your confidence and achieve your goals and dreams, and do not allow anything to stand in your way. REFERENCES: Brenner, A. (2015, December 27). 5 Benefits of Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-flux/201512/5-benefits-stepping-outside-your-comfort-zone Mead, E. (2018, November 26). Comfort Zones: An Alternative Perspective. PsychCentral. https://psychcentral.com/blog/comfort-zones-an-alternative-perspective#1 Page, O. (2021, August 25). How to Leave Your Comfort Zone and Enter Your 'Growth Zone.' Positive Psychology. https://positivepsychology.com/comfort-zone/#comfort-zon